C15 Fighting

"Why did it take you so long? I asked you to deliver the food, not to take it abroad! All you do is slack off. Do you even want to keep your job? Do you still expect to get paid? Your salary for today is cut in half. Take some time to reflect on your actions." The supervisor berated Zhou Pu for his prolonged absence.

Zhou Pu could only offer repeated apologies, while Zhong Qian, who had stealthily followed him, watched with disappointment at Zhou Pu's meek demeanor. She waited until he went off to deliver food again before she entered the kitchen.

The supervisor was caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of the boss's daughter. He quickly bowed and greeted her, though it was clear she was in a foul mood. After a few reprimands, she began to complain about his harsh treatment of the new employee, insisting on equal treatment for all newcomers. This frightened him into nodding profusely and vowing to amend his ways.

Once the young lady had left, the supervisor wiped the sweat from his forehead, perplexed by what had just happened. He had only just finished scolding the new employee when he himself was criticized. Could it be that the young lady had come specifically to defend the newcomer? It seemed unlikely; one was a part-time worker and the other a wealthy heiress – their worlds were too far apart for there to be any connection.

...

Lin Residence.

Dragging his weary and pained body, Zhou Pu returned home to find Lin Yijing waiting for him. Warm dishes were promptly served, which comforted Zhou Pu deeply. Despite having already eaten at the hotel, he enjoyed a hearty meal. After a long and tiring day, his spirits were lifted by the long-missed affection from Lin Yijing, which brought back a sense of home. Additionally, he was relieved to find his salary had not been docked after all – whether the supervisor had forgotten or had a change of heart, he couldn't tell. The incident involving his drunken brawl had also been resolved; thankfully, the injuries were minor, and the instigators, once sober, had apologized and offered compensation. The hotel, of course, preferred to downplay the incident. His only concern now was that Lin Yun'er had not yet returned. He worried that their earlier work-related argument might lead to another confrontation later in the evening.

Lin Yijing noticed Zhou Pu's mind was elsewhere, so after dinner, he engaged him in a game of chess and chatted about everyday matters, inquiring if his work was going smoothly. To keep Lin Yijing from worrying, Zhou Pu didn't bring up the fight, merely mentioning he felt a bit tired.

Lin Yijing didn't suspect anything and after a single game, suggested Zhou Pu get some early rest.

Zhou Pu acknowledged his chess skills were lacking; he was quickly checkmated within minutes. With a sigh, he retired to his room to freshen up.

Since his arrival at the Lin Residence, he had become accustomed to daily baths, meticulously washing his feet several times, a habit instilled by Lin Yun'er. As he looked in the mirror at the bruises mottling his skin, Zhou Pu pressed a warm towel against them, rubbing gently, hoping to reduce the swelling. The distinct teeth marks on his arm were still visible, and he wondered if they might be permanent. Then it struck him—he had also left teeth marks on Lin Yun'er. Would hers fade? He wasn't concerned about marks on his own body, but for a girl, especially one with such fair and delicate skin, it was a different story. The thought of her having to hide an unsightly mark on her neck and avoid low-cut dresses in the future filled him with guilt. He berated himself for his impulsiveness; it was ungentlemanly to have acted so rashly towards a woman.

After freshening up and noticing Lin Yun'er had not returned, Zhou Pu decided to take the water bucket into the space to tend to the plants—it wouldn't take long.

The garden space remained largely unchanged, except for a new sprout in the center pot on the shelf. The bush lily had begun to germinate, its two tender green leaves unfurling like arms ready to embrace the world. The delicate veins on the leaves were as clear as if etched into crystal.

Gazing at this translucent new life, one he had nurtured himself, Zhou Pu's face broke into a contented smile. He moistened his hand with water and gently sprinkled a few drops onto the sprout. The droplets cascaded down the leaves, with some cradled by the sprout, sparkling like tiny pearls in the light.

The sight of this vibrant little life seemed to brighten Zhou Pu's spirits. After finishing his watering, he was about to leave when he picked up his phone and glanced at the time. Zhou Pu paused, taken aback.

After entering and sprinkling just a bit of water, several minutes should have passed, yet the time on my phone seemed unchanged. Upon accessing the clock interface, I was taken aback by an unexpected occurrence: the second hand had stopped. Could time be at a standstill here? I launched the stopwatch feature and pressed start, but the second hand remained motionless. No, that wasn't quite right—the milliseconds behind the second hand began to creep forward. However, these milliseconds, which should have been flickering rapidly, were now advancing at a snail's pace, changing one digit at a time. This meant that time here wasn't frozen; it was just progressing incredibly slowly. A quick estimate revealed that spending a minute in this place was equivalent to an hour outside. It was only then that I, Zhou Pu, remembered having slept here once, waking up feeling refreshed. I had assumed it was a brief nap, but in reality, I had slept for several hours.

Realizing that time moved slowly in this space meant I had ample opportunity to rest. But to rest alone would be to squander the miraculous qualities of this environment.

I pulled out my phone and began to pore over chess strategies. Every time I played with my grandfather, I was soundly defeated. I had long intended to delve into the game's intricate tactics. The heavy cannon kill, the muffled palace kill—I found them all fascinating. Previously, my work had consumed me, and any free time I had was spent on novels. Now, at last, I had the time to truly immerse myself in study.

Rubbing my tired eyes, I stepped out of the space to hear Lin Yun'er's voice outside. I quickly straightened up before making my exit.

"Quit your job tomorrow," Lin Yun'er commanded after a brief glance at me, tossing several shopping bags into the wardrobe.

"Why?" I asked, puzzled.

"Why? You're asking me why? Do you not realize that's my mother's hotel? Are you intentionally causing trouble?"

"I'm not causing trouble; I'm just working. I only later discovered it belonged to my mother-in-law," I explained.

"Talking back now, are you? And since when do you call her your mother-in-law? We're only married in name," Lin Yun'er retorted, clearly unaccustomed to my newfound assertiveness. This coward, suddenly standing his ground—where did he get the audacity? Any goodwill she had felt vanished in an instant.

"I believe I haven't done anything wrong," I maintained.

"Not wrong? Even if it's just in name, your identity is now known to others. How do you think that reflects on the Lin family? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass us?" Lin Yun'er was exasperated. With the company facing issues, the last thing she needed was for me to add to her troubles.

"I'm aware that I come from a humble background, without wealth or influence. It would be embarrassing for you if others found out. Rest assured, I won't broadcast our situation. I may not be skilled, but I refuse to be a freeloader. I'll make my own way."

"You... You..." Lin Yun'er was livid, her anger causing her physical pain. She was incredulous at how stubbornly he clung to his menial job, as if the meager earnings were enough to sustain him. He acted so self-righteous. If he had just conceded and quit, she would have found him a more comfortable position out of pity. But no, he was like a stone in a latrine—foul and unyielding. The urge to lash out at him was overwhelming, but the memory of her own neck injury forced her to restrain herself. The thought of a grown man resorting to biting a woman infuriated her.

"You... You think I'm being unreasonable, don't you? If you're so unhappy, then let's get a divorce!" Lin Yun'er yelled as she watched him burrow into the covers, hiding like a turtle.

"I have no objections. Go tell Grandfather," came the muffled reply from beneath the blanket.

"You..." Lin Yun'er was at a loss for words. Frustrated, she threw a pillow in a fit of anger, then huffed as she too disappeared under the covers, out of sight and out of mind.